Need_MindBleach:Hasn't there been a healthy bit a skepticism toward the whole "apes signing" thing recently?

Has there? Not something I really follow, but I kind of liked the idea that they were much smarter than most people think. As I am a lazy bastard, I'll need you to do some research on this and present it to me by next week. I'll need source material for all references, and I want it double spaced, printed on quality paper, and most importantly, in comic sans.

Has there? Not something I really follow, but I kind of liked the idea that they were much smarter than most people think. As I am a lazy bastard, I'll need you to do some research on this and present it to me by next week. I'll need source material for all references, and I want it double spaced, printed on quality paper, and most importantly, in comic sans.

I'm at CWU right now, where this chimp institute is, and just finishing up an anthropology course on primate social behavior. One of the things that got me fascinated in the subject was reading this book, written by one of the founders of the CHCI. It's been shown pretty conclusively that not only are chimpanzees capable of using language (sign), but they use it to communicate with one another (not just humans), can teach it to their offspring, invent their own signs, are capable of complex emotional expression and social relationships and at least some abstract thought/language, etc. Check out that book if you're interested, it's one of the best modern books on chimpanzee behavior, and a fascinating read in general.

I've been to the CHCI a few times, and Dar was the one (I think) that liked to run up and bang the glass to startle the kids. Sad...

jprogram:This chimpanzee is probably an inspiration for the 1980's movie "Project X." (Absolutely no relation to the recent drunken cesspool of a movie.) It's the one with the yonug hot Helen Hunt people!

jprogram:This chimpanzee is probably an inspiration for the 1980's movie "Project X." (Absolutely no relation to the recent drunken cesspool of a movie.) It's the one with the yonug hot Helen Hunt people!

BassChild:I'm at CWU right now, where this chimp institute is, and just finishing up an anthropology course on primate social behavior. One of the things that got me fascinated in the subject was reading this book, written by one of the founders of the CHCI. It's been shown pretty conclusively that not only are chimpanzees capable of using language (sign), but they use it to communicate with one another (not just humans), can teach it to their offspring, invent their own signs, are capable of complex emotional expression and social relationships and at least some abstract thought/language, etc.

I've heard a fair amount of criticism that these sign language research projects don't release enough of their raw data, and that a lot of their signing needs to be interpreted by specially trained researchers (i.e. the project's own personnel) and that outside sign language experts are only given selected snippets of footage.

jprogram:jprogram: This chimpanzee is probably an inspiration for the 1980's movie "Project X." (Absolutely no relation to the recent drunken cesspool of a movie.) It's the one with the yonug hot Helen Hunt people!